Bag closing apparatus



May 5, 1953 G. H. cLARY BAG CLOSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 19, 1949 vMaly 5, 1953 y G. H. cLARY 2,637,153

BAG CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/cc,

INVENTOR. GEORGE: HERMAN CLA lav.

A TTORNEVS.

May 5, 1953 A G. H. cLARY BAG CLOSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 INVENTOR. Gamesa Haar/IAN CLA RY.

ATTORNEYS.

May 5, 1953 G. H. cLARY BAG CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1949 Q 7 7 A. wm 4 INVENTOR. GnoRGE. HERMAN CLA 2jr.

ATTORNEYS W M., A

Mayl 5, 1953 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 G. H. CLARY 2,637,153

BAG CLOSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR..

G sones: H Eran/IAN CLAIQY.

ATTORNE V5.

Patented May 5, 1953 2,637,153 BAG, oLosiNG ArrAaA'rrJsy George Herman Clary, Belle Fourche, S.'Dak., as'- signor, by mesne assignments, to St. Regis Paper Company, New York,N. Y., a'corporation of New York Application January 19, 1949,` seriaiNo. 71,605

(ci. 53-5v s oiaims. l

This invention relates to packaging apparatus,

and more particularly to means for settling the,

contents of and automatically closing gusseted open mouth bags.

In the closing of gusseted open mouth bags, it is normal procedure, after a. bag has been filled, to tuck the gussets inwardly oi the bag with a view toward pressing the bag mouth closed without any wrinkling or crumpling of the gussets or side panels ofthe bag whereby such bag mouth is prepared, for example, for iinal closure as by sewing or gluing. Any wrinltling or crumpling of the bag surfaces or any .folding at lines other than at the desired gusset fold lines may produce a defective bag closure which may permit leakage therefrom or infiltrationof undesired substances therein. The gusset sides in proper bag closures are normally parallel to one another, having been folded such that the outer sides thereof are facing and in contact with one another, and the bag side panels are closely pressed against the inner faces of the gusset sides.

Apparatus suggested in the past for automatically eiecting such bag closures have been unnecessarily complicated and expensive.

Moreover, such apparatus suggested in the past have required complex means for actuating the gusset tucling mechanism and have, in most instances, also required that the bags be fed to the tucking mechanism at a uniform and carefully `selected interval from which no departure can be made without upsetting the phase relationship of the bags with the tucking device, thereby preventing proper tucking and closing.

'Such tucking mechanism in prior apparatusof this type, have usually been positively and continuously driven from a suitable power source which further has made necessary the movement of bags thereto at a preselected uniform interval or at a preselected phase relationship, thereby also making necessary complicated and' expensive bag interval control means. Such bag interval control means have not always been accurate and have in Vmany cases been the cause of undesirably high percentages of rejected bags becausel some bags when moved within Vtheorbit of the tucking device become slightly out of place.

Also, apparatus suggested heretofore for automatically closing large numbers of such bags has normally included a conveyor for moving the bags seriatim to thetucking device, which conveyor has been operatively interconnected with the'tucking device by someipositive means. This is one of the factors contributing to the necessity for a carefully maintained bag interval.

Furthermore, since 'it is desirable to get as much material as ,possible into a'bag in order to be economical of paper, and to assist in compact packing, there have been suggested heretofore'bag settling devices operable during or after the nlling of each bag. But such bag settlers operable after bag filling have had serious disadvantages in that they have tended to slow down unnecessarily the line of bags to be closed and also have tended to upset accurate spacing of the bags. l f

One of the objects of the present inventionis to overcome the above diiculties or to reduce same to insignificance. y

The novel apparatus comprises an extremely simple and inexpensive automatic bag settling and closing device wherein it is unnecessary to move thebags into the orbit vof a tucking mechanism at a fixed or .uniform interval, although the apparatus is capable of establishing such an interval. The proper operation of the tucking device is not dependent upon the ,maintenance of Va uniform interval between bags.. It iis only necessary Vto insure that no two consecutive bags are too close together, that is, so close together that the proximity of the aftermost bag interferes with the tucking of a gusset of the bag' ahead. Thus, it is necessary only lto maintain a minimum interval between consecutive bags there being no limit upon the maximum interval.

Apparatus is preferably provided for governing a procession of bags so that they are advanced to the tucking and closing device with at least such minimum interval therebetween, whereby, as in the case of bag mouths sewn closed by a continuously operating sewing machine, there is a minimum amount ofthread and/or closure tape between successive 'bags which'must be disposed of as waste.

The novel means for so adjusting the minimum bag interval may also serve as a settling device in such a manner that the operation .of the settling mechanism has no detrimental effect upon-the accuracy of the apparatus in spacing the bags, and in fact the settling mechanism comprises an integral part of the spacing device.

The invention, in one aspect thereof, is constituted by an endless conveyor which, at one extremity of, for example, the upper'run thereof is positioned for yreceiving a succession of filled open mouth bags from a bag iillng machine. Such bags `may be moved onto the conveyor at no Aregular interval, that is, some bags maybe hunched together in too close a relationship at intervals less than the above-discussed Anecessary minimum interval. Also, some bags `may be spaced farther apart than is desired. A combined bag spacer and bag settler is employed comprising means for slowing down and jiggling all of the oncoming bags and thereafter releasing same with at least the minimum necessary interval therebetween. The combined bag spacer and bag settler comprises, for example, a horizontal platform with a slot therein, along which slot moves said endless conveyor. preferably comprises the bottom surface of a channel-shaped member, the sides of 'which member act as guides for holding the bags in proper alignment over the endless conveyor. Said platform is suspended for oscillation, for example, by an eccentric in a novel manner whereby said platform is periodically lifted slightly above the conveyor thereby periodically and momentarily lifting the bags thereon above the conveyoi and temporarily slowing their advance. The oscillating action of the platform causes the bags to bunch or collect thereon and thereafter to be discharged with at least a pre-- selected interval therebetween.

In one modification of the bag settler and spacer device, the suspension thereof, is such that upon oscillation, produced as by an eccentric, a pair of points, each on an opposite extremity of said platform, move substantially in elliptical paths, the major axes of such ellipses being substantially equal in length and tilted forward in the direction of bag movement, the rst ellipse (at the channel inlet) having a greater minor axis than the other. A point substantially midway of the two extremities reciprocates almost in a straight line tilted in the same direction as the major axes of said ellipses. The direction of movements of such points forming such ellipses are opposite whereby the first encountered portion of the platform lifts the bags above the conveyor and moves or f.

pitches them forward Whereas the last encountered portion lifts or pitches the bags upwardly and also forwardly, but due to the opposite direction of said elliptical motion there is a rearward and retarding component of speed acting opposite to the direction of the conveyor. That is, the platform see-saws upon a substantially central axis and simultaneously the platform is oscillated up and down in such a way that such central axis, in a plane perpendicular thereto, describes almost a straight line tilted toward the direction of conveyor movement. In fact the axis in such plane describes a very narrow ellipse which is almost a straight line. When a bag is thus lifted off of the conveyor it is slowed by the see-sawing platform because the maximum forward component of speed of such platform is substantially less than the conveyor speed. Such forward component of the platform progressively diminishes along the length thereof from inlet towards the outlet.

The reciprocating platform thus produces a slowing and a bunching of the bags at the outlet where they are released successively to the conveyor therebeneath to be solely advanced thereby. The combined action of the conveyor and settler or jigger is to produce substantially a uniform interval between the bags which is at least equal to said minimum necessary inter- Val.

It has been found desirable to compress inwardly the top lled portion of the bags near the end of the settling procedure in order to avoid excessive bag bulging near the top level of material. Suitable inwardly tapering guides The platform 4 can be employed for this purpose whereby excessive bulging is prevented which otherwise may prevent proper bag closures.

Thereafter each bag is successively advanced into operative engagement with the bag closing device comprising a bag actuated gusset tucking means which acts in combination with a pair of converging endless belts, the latter acting upon the upper portions of the open bag to assist in advancing same upon the main bag conveyor, and simultaneously progressively to flatten the gussets, by forcing together the bag sides, finally pressing the bag side panels at the bag mouth atly against the inwardly tucked and flattened gussets thereby closing the bag mouth, and advancing same, for example, to a sewing machine.

The novel gusset tucking means comprises a wheel-like element having a plurality of spokes extending radially from the central hub member which element is sometimes referred to as a tucking wheel. The spokes are equally angularly spaced and the Wheel is mounted for angular movement on an axis which is above and which extends transversely of the bag conveyor. The spokes or arms are so positioned that, at the outset, one downwardly extending spoke is in an initial bag engaging position, that is, it is in the path of and centrally disposed relative to the leading gusset of an oncoming bag. A rearwardly protruding gusset finger is mounted on the extremity of each arm to strike the gusset at the upper level of material. Yielding means are provided for resiliently urging the tucking wheel to remain in this initial position but such means can be overcome by: (l) the action of said converging belts and (2) the pushing action of the bag as it advances on the conveyor. The leading gusset thus strikes a rearwardly protruding gusset nger on a downwardly extending spoke and is urged inwardly, that is, the gusset is partly folded or tucked inwardly and the folding together of the sides of the gusset along the gusset center fold line is commenced. The advancing bag thus shifts the spoke angularly through a preselected angular increment whereupon said resilient means are fully overcome and a sudden snap action or quick angular movement of the tucker is initiated whereby the next successive spoke is snapped down into said initial bag engaging position and in so doing engages and tucks inwardly the aftermost or trailing gusset of said bag. Of course, such next successive spoke is thus positioned for engaging the leading gusset of the next bag. A simple spring loaded detent cam mechanism may be employed for so governing the tucking wheel.

Further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the detailed description below when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Although only a single embodiment of the invention is described in detail and shown in the drawings, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, reference for this latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an apparatus, with portions broken away, embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail View, on an expanded scale,

of the bag settling and spacing portion of the apparatus;

5 Fig. 4 is a sectional view. taken along linear-A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4a is a sectional view of a channel bag guide member employed in the invention and taken substantially on line B-B of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail side view, on an expanded scale, of a tuclzing element employed in the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the element shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the bag mouth closing device, including the tucking element, employed in the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a side View of the parts shown in Fig. 7 together with a bag conveyor.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a conveyor lll is provided, preferably of the endless belt type, which is stretched between suitable pulleys l I and l2 mounted upon a frame I3 which rests upon legs as at lil. Conveyor it, in the form shown, comprises a pair of .so-called V-belts lila, lbb (Figs. 2 and a).

The upper runs of belts lila, Elib are supported, intermediate pulleys ll and l2, by means of a plurality of rollers as at l5 which, for a purpose to appear hereinafter, are closely spaced over about the first half of said run and more widely spaced over the remainder. The lower runs of belts lila, IBD are supported as by rollers I6 which may be vertically adjustable to take up slack in `the belts.

Conveyor E is driven continuously, preferably at a constant velocity as by electric motor ll which is operatively connected thereto as by a conventional belt and pulley arrangement.

Filled open mouthed gusseted bags, for example full of sugar, are delivered consecutively to the conveyor lil at the right hand extremity thereof as viewed in Fig. l. Such bags may be so delivered without any preselected interval therebetween and, as above discussed, may be hunched together consecutively in contact with one another or widely spaced.

Conveyor lll delivers thevbags consecutively to the combined spacer and settler mechanism indicated generally at it (Figs. l and 3) Said mechanism is constituted, in the form shown, by a platform i9 having a slot lila therein thus forming two rigidly associated co-planar portions llb and i90. veyor I0 moves along the slot lila. Furthermore said platform is mounted for reciprocating motion at least in a vertical direction and also if desired in a horizontal direction, whereby the bags moved by conveyor lil over said platform are jigged, the contents settled, and simultaneously the bags are somewhat slowed by virtue of the periodic lifting off of the conveyor. Platform i9, as above mentioned, preferably comprises the bottom surface of a channel member ld the upstanding sides lee of which guide the bags over the conveyor.

In the form shown, platform portions leb, i90 are rigidly associated by means well indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 comprising pairs of side brackets 20, 2l and 22, the base portions of each bracket of a pair being rigidly secured together. As

shown in Fig. ll, base portions lilla or bracketsv 2li are secured as by a common base plate 23. Analogous base plates 2d and 25 are employed for bracket pairs 2l and 22 respectively. The brackets 20, 2l and 22, as shown in Fig. 3, extend between belt support rollers I and are secured as lby Welding to channel sides 19e.

Platform i9 is positioned so that con- Generally as viewed in Fig; 3, the left hand portion of platform It is directly supported by an eccentric 26. The shaft of eccentric 26 'is journaled as at 2l in depending supports 29 which in turn are rigidly secured to the frame i3. It is seen that eccentric 2t is operatively connected with the base plate 23 as by suitable journals 29, the eccentric being rotatable by means of an eleotric motor Si), for example, at about 350 R. P. M. via a belt 3l which passes over a pulley 32 upon the eccentric shaft and also over a suitable pulley upon said motor.

The right hand extremity of said platform, as viewed also in Fig. 3, is mounted for reciprocating motion under the influence of said eccentric by virtue. of a so-called swing link 33 (one on each side) which, in the form shown, interconnects a pair of stationary but horizontally adjustable swing center brackets 34 with swing plates 35 rigidlysecured, preferably to the base plate 25. Swing link 33, as shown in Fig. 3, is disposed about 45 to the vertical, and preferably is constituted by pivot fingers 33a resiliently mounted as in rubber held by the opposite swing link extremities. Swing center brackets 3Q are provided at 34a. with slots through which fastening bolts 36 pass into the frame i3 and by which said brackets are horizontally adjustable to control the movement of the settler platform. Further control over said movement is obtained by Selection of a desired swing link pivot hole in the swing plates 35, for example, three shown as at 35a, 351) and 35o.

I have yfound it to be highly desirable to shape the lower corner portions of the channel member ld as shown in Figs. 4 and la whereby the distance across the horizontal portions leb, llc is substantially equal to the short dimension of the bottom of a bag, for example, a sugar pocket. The fillet portions as at ltb and i are flared outwardly and upwardly by a preselected amount to permit a desired bulging of the bags as they are jigged upon the platform l 9.

But such jigging normally causes undesired or excessive bulging near the upper level of the contents whereby the gusset-s may even be bulged outwardly making proper closing difficult and perhaps impossible, for example, proper gusset tucking may be possible but the side panels may crumple at final closure due to outward bulging thereof. Consequently, where the bags are jigged, some bag top souaring or top compressing means should be employed, as shown in Figs. 2.

`and 4a at igf, comprising inwardly converging bag top compressing portions or Shapers between which the bag tops are forced by virtue of the oscillating movement of platform lt and of the forward motion of the bag conveyor.

tangular cross section and prepare same for engagement by the tucking element. The Shapers lf are somewhat higher than portions Ilia-andpreferably commence at about the midpoint of the channel and are continued, thereby forming an overhang as at 59g. The latter assists in guiding the upper portions of the bag, i. e., the open mouth, between a pair of converging guides 31, for example, endless guide belts which serve the purpose of assisting in moving the upper portion of the bag toward the tucking element thereby tending to prevent a bag tipback by said element and, as will appear later, of pressing the bag' mouth closed. Each of said belts 3l is stretched between suitable pulleys as at 37a, 31h the latter being operatively connected to said Said Shapers tend to reform the bag back into a rec conveyor motor l1 by any suitable means such as the belts and pulleys shown.

If desired the bases of the side brackets20. 2| and 22 may be joined together by a member 38 extending longitudinally of the channel member |9d. Said member 38 preferably comprises relatively thin resilient steel straps, there being two in the modification shown (Fig. 4) which straps assist in imparting reciprocating movement to brackets 2| and 22 at the bases thereof.

The bags after being discharged from the platform I9, with at least the minimum interval therebetween, are advanced by conveyor I into operative engagement with the bag closing device which is indicated in general at 39 and, in

the form shown, is constituted by the above mentioned converging guides 3l and also a so-called snap action tucking wheel 40, which has been discussed above. The converging belts 3l work in combination with the tucking wheel 40, the latter being positioned therebetween.

In the modification illustrated, the tucking wheel 40 is constituted by a hub member 4| which is made up of two portions Ma and 4Ib comprising respectively a central supporting shaft and a surrounding sleeve portion rotatably mounted thereupon. The central shaft 4|a is provided with threaded extremities having thereon suitable position adjusting nuts as at 42, shaft 4|a being adapted for resting as in a support slot 43 formed in a tucker wheel support member 44.

Interposed between central shaft 4|a and sleeve 4|b are suitable anti-friction bearings 45.

To the sleeve 4|b of said hub member there are secured a plurality, for example four, spokes or tucking arms 46, 41, 48 and 49.

It has been found desirable first to engage the leading gusset of an oncoming bag at approximately the upper level of the material therein, this level in sugar bags being termed the sugar line, and normally being located about one third of way down the bag from the top. For this purpose each of said tucking spokes 46-49 inclusive may be provided at the extremities thereof with a gusset finger as at 45a, 41a, 48a, and 49a re spectively, each of which ngers extends toward the approaching bags when its respective tucking arm is in the initial bag engaging position, as arm 46 in Fig. 5. Moreover, the gusset fingers serve the purpose of tending to prevent backward bag tipping by preventing the upper portions of the leading gusset from contacting the tucking arm. A substantially firm but yieldable part of the bag thus is thrust against the tucking arm.

Novel means are provided for governing the tucking wheel 40 comprising, in the form shown, a so-called snap cam or detent cam 50 which is under the influence of a cam follower 5|, the latter being resiliently urged against the cam by resilient means as coil spring 52, which is preferably of adjustable character. Cam 50 is adjustably secured to sleeve Hb as by bolts 56a which may pass through suitable arcuate slots in saidv cam and which may engage a flange 4|c secured to said sleeve 4|b. Cam follower 5| comprises a roller mounted at the free extremity of a cam follower arm 53 which is pivotally secured at 54 to an arm 55. The latter is pivotable about the central shaft da, and is provided at the outer extremity with means for effecting minor angular adjustments thereof comprising a threaded bolt 56 having adjusting nuts 5'! thereon which can be adjusted for positioning said outer extremity along a slot 58 in support member 44 (Fig. 8). Coil spring 52 surrounds a rod 52a pivotally mounted at 52h on arm 55, spring tension' being governed by butterfly 52c.

The cam 50 is provided with a plurality of equispaced dwells or valleys equal in number to the number of tucking spokes, and said cam is adjusted so that normally one spoke extends downwardly vertically into the path of the bags and is positioned for engaging the leading gusset at its center fold line, the gusset finger so engaging the leading gusset preferably at the upper level of the material in the bag.

A bag pushes against the gusset finger as at 46a thereby tucking the leading gusset partially inwardly and preparing said gusset for the folding together of the gusset sides face-to-face, and the flattening of the bag side panels against the gussets so folded. The advancing bag thus angularly shifts the tucking wheel and the cam 50 such that cam follower 5| rolls up from a valley 56h therein (Fig. 5) over cam portion 5Go and thence onto peak d (Fig. l). This cam follower movement is against the resilient or yielding action of the spring 52, the forward thrust of the bag being sufficient to overcome the springend the tension on the latter being insuificient to cause a tipping over of the bag. Belts 3l preferably travel a little faster than conveyor Il] whereby bag tip back is inhibited.

Further advance of the bag will, of course, angularly shift cam 50 sufficiently to initiate the above mentioned snap action caused by the follower 5| suddenly rolling off of said peak 50d, over a small hump 50e and into the next valley or dwell 50f. Said snap action suddenly moving arm lll down into tuckng engagement with the trailing gusset of said bag, tucking same inwardly as in the case of the leading gusset. In the form shown the cam follower 5| reaches cam peak 50d after approximately 35 to 40 of angular movement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and '7 the tucking of a leading gusset by the tucking wheel occurs about the same time as or shortly after engagement of a bag by the converging belts 3l. The latter guide the bag top between converging stationary' guide bars as at 59 which have upper flared portions as at 55a for receiving the upper part of the now part1ally closed bag mouth, preventing its tilting, and progressively pressing same inwardly and downwardly between guide portions 59h which are closely adjacent one another, there being adequate space therebetween for the passage of the new closed but unsewn bag mouth. Guide portions 55h lead the bag mouth into a sewing machine as at Klil] resting upon a support 60a.

Belts 3l engage and are pressed against one another between pulleys 37a at a point 6| which preferably is just below the stationary guide portion 59a, and is so positioned that the co-acting belts can positively thrust the bag mouth into the sewing machine 60. The latter may be adapted for applying so-called side closure tape to either side of the bag and sewing the bag mouth closed through such tape. Suitable cutters (not shown) may be provided for severing the tape and thread closely adjacent the bag. And if desired suitable means can be employed for quickly removing the tape and thread so severed from between successive bags comprising suction means (not shown).

quite small in the neighborhood of the bag settier-spacerL i8 as compared to such interval on the lef-t half portion of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. l, because less conveyor sag is desirable beneath said settler in order to achieve a positive conveyor drive at this area when the oscillating platform so permits.

Referring again to the bag settler and spacer i8, the suspension above described when actuated by the eccentric 26 produces a movement of the platform lil which is somewhat analogous to a see-.saw or rocking movement with the pivot of the see-saw undergoing reciprocating movement substantially along a straight line, as at 83, which is tilted with the upper extremity thereof leaning toward the direction of movement of the main conveyor. A point on said platform as at iSd" located over or substantially over the eccentric 2t will move in a substantially elliptical path as at 5t, and a point ISh substantially at the opposite extremity will move in an elliptical path as at 66 somewhat more fiat than path 6d, but the maior axes of all said ellipses are substantially parallel and tilted in the same direction as path 63. A bag near point ld"` will be pitched forward and upwardly and dropped upon the conveyor Il) thereby beingl retarded because the forward horizontal component of speed resulting from such handling is less than the conveyor speed. A bag near the opposite extremity, as at lh, will also be pitched upwardly and forwardly but to a lesser i deg-ree because the direction of angular motion of point lllh being opposite to that of point ISEZ there will be a rearward component which will retard bag movement somewhat more than at point 19d. ing action of bag top Shapers 19j tends to slovT the bags to the 'greatest extent near point ith. The reciprocating action of platform iii, as caused by for example 350 R. P. on shaft 26, in combination with the conveyor, produces a consecutive transfer of bags from the settler at a preselected minimum interval onto the main conveyor it which of course carries the bags olf toward the tuciring device above` set forth.

Reieifins again ie Seid eliieiieei reihe, e bee at point i3d' will have a forward component of speed when lifted off of the conveyor il), which substantially less than the bags forward speed component when on such conveyor. ll'he lifting of the bag removes temporarily the forwarding or ddvvllfiilg @CQQ 0f @he COIVQYQI.' i@ UPCT! the bag. d bag at point ltd', due to the direction of motion at 54 of such point, will be pitched upward ierwerei e sieeter dieieaee there a bee at point ith, because the latter point is moving in an opposite direction. A point in the upper heli @la et the reili. i@ is thus mei/ins in the Seme directies es eenvever iii, Whereas e peint in the upper half ei nath meres itl e., directies Opposite te that ei Seid Conveyor- Siieh. opposite movement of point lh does not actually move a bag rearwardly but diminishes substantially the Het forward. sneed @eingeteilt ef the bes causing bunching of the bags at the outlet of the plate form member.

Ii desired. e. ees eeliieries cuide ee et lie, Fig Y, Gente emploi/ee. fer eeieieries the after they leave the eeiiier saisine. Seme tewerd the tuclfzor element with the gusset center fold line in alignment with a tucker arm.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example thereof, and that various changes in the shape, site andV arrange.-

This latter factor coupled with the squeezf ment of parts can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the. invention'.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus for closing open mouthed gusseted bags, a reciprocating bag settler, a conveyor movable along a portion of said settler, said settler including a platform reciprocable to lift the bags periodically from and to redeposit same on said conveyor, said settler and conveyorco-.acting to retard the bags and thereafter transf. fer saine o of said platform and onto said con-- veyor at a preselected interval, a multi-arm gus: set tucking element having arms in xed angular relation to one another and mounted for angular movement about an axis above and transversely disposed. relative to said conveyor, a detent cam and follower for positioning said element, and resilient means for urging said follower against said cam said multi-arm gusset tucking element being positioned for eng-agement and actuatable by bags moving upon said conveyor, the leading portion of such a bag engaging an arm of said element, such leadingv portion thus being tucked inwardly, the tuclting element being simultaneously shifted ang-ularly` whereby said detent cam and follower are actuated and said tucking element is rapidly shifted angularly to tuck the trailing portion of such a bag. v

2. In apparatus for closing open mouthed gusseted bags, a bag conveyor, means for retarding and periodically releasing bags on said conveyor, a tucking device comprising a plurality of tucking arms extending radially from a hub portion ,and mounted for angular movement about an axis extending transversely of and above said conveyor, anda bag actuatable snap cam device for governing angular motion of said arms, said snap cam device and tucking device being so constructed and arranged that the leading gussets of bags on said conveyor successively engage consecutive of said armsand advance same through a preselected angular increment thereafter in itiating the action of said snap cam device to snap y the next successive arm into engagement with the trailing gusset of the bag.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyor for a plurality of open mouth gusseted bags, said conveyor being constructed and arranged for advancing bags thereon at a preselected Speed, meeheniem ,fer reierdine Seid bees en, Seid. eecveyer end releasing Seme with e pfeseieeiefi minimum interval therebetween, a multi-spoked tucking wheel, each spoke having a gusset finger secured to the extremity thereof, and positioned for` successively first engaging the leading gussets of oncoming bags on said conveyor whereby each such spoke being at least momentarily held in spaced relation to the gusset during angular spoke movement caused by the bag thrusting thereagainst, and a detent cam and follower mechanism for governing said tucking Wheel, said follower having resilient means for urging same toward said cam, said cam having a plu-` e rality of dwell portions, there being high cam portions therebetween, a bag thrusting against a spoke urging said followerout of such dwell portion and onto such high portion whereupon the follower, under the action of said resilienty means, rides into the next dwell portion and rapidly shifts said tuckingwheel into its next successive position.

Ll. lin apparatus of the class described, a channel guide member having a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom surface thereof, there 11 being portions of such bottom surface on each side of the slot for supporting a plurality of bags, an endless conveyor belt movable in the slot in said channel guide member, the upper run of said endless conveyor belt being of substantially greater length than the length of said channel guide member, the latter member being positioned intermediate the extremities of said conveyor whereby lled bags are conveyed on said conveyor into the channel guide member, means for imparting a reciprocating motion to said channel guide member in a direction parallel to the direction of said conveyor and simultaneously in a plane perpendicular to the direction of motion of said conveyor whereby the bottom surface of said member is lifted slightly above the upper run of said conveyor, the reciprocating movement of the channel guide member being effective to settle the bag contents and to slow down the column of oncoming bags therein, said bags being released from said channel guide member consecutively for movement upon said endless conveyor, the movement of each bag so released being at a greater velocity than that of the bags on s'aid channel guide member whereby the bags are spaced upon said conveyor with at least a preselected minimum interval, a gusset tucker element mounted above said conveyor for acting upon the bags thereupon which have been released from the reciprocating channel guide member, said gusset tucker member comprising a plurality of arms extending radially upon a shaft mounted transversally of said endless conveyor, said arms being uniformly angularly spaced upon the shaft thereof, a detent cam having a plurality of valleys equal in number to the number of tucker arms, said cam being secured to the tucker arm shaft, and a detent arm having associated therewith resilient means for urging same into engagement with said detent cam, said tucker arms being thus constructed and arranged for being successively interposed in the path of the oncoming bags whereby the leading gusset of successive bags will engage a tucker arm extending into the path thereof and be tucked inwardly, and the motion of the bag upon said endless conveyor yieldingly will shift angularly said arm whereby said cam follower will be forced to a high point of said detent cam and thereafter ride into the next successive valley to produce a sudden rapid angular shifting of said tucker arm whereby the next successive of said arms will engage and tuck inwardly the rear gusset of the bag.

5. In apparatus of the class described a conveyor for bags, a channel member having a slot in the bottom surface thereof, along and through which moves said conveyor, the latter being of greater length than said channel member, mechanism for imparting reciprocating movement to said channel member whereby the lower surface thereof is periodically lifted slightly above said conveyor to retard bags thereon and to settle the contents therein, a plurality of tucker arms mounted for angular movement about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor and above the latter, said axis being positioned whereby the extremities of the tucker arms are movable successively into the path of the bags upon said conveyor, a snap cam device for governing the angular movement of said tucker arms comprising a detent cam with a plurality of valleys equal in number to the number of tucker arms and a cam follower having means for resiliently urging the latter against said detent cam, said cam and follower being adjusted for positioning a tucker arm in a substantially vertical position when the follower is in a valley of said cam whereby a bag having a leading and a trailing gusset and moving upon said conveyor will engage such tucker arm at the leading gusset thereof and be tucked inwardly, the leading gusset of the bag by virtue of its motion on the conveyor being effective to actuate the detent cam and follower to snap an adjacent tucker arm downwardly to engage and tuck inwardly the trailing gusset.

6. In a gusseted bag closing apparatus, the combination comprising a channel guide member having a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom surface thereof, a conveyor of greater length than said channel member and movable along the slot, said channel member being positioned intermediate the extremities of said conveyor, mechanism for imparting horizontal and vertical reciprocating movement to said channel member whereby the bottom surface of the latter member is periodically lifted above said conveyor, a gusset tucking device positioned for r acting upon the bags upon said conveyor after the bags have passed said channel member, said tucking device comprising a plurality of tucker arms extending radially from a common mounting and equally angularly spaced thereon, the axis of angular movement of said tucker arms extending substantially transversely of said conveyor, a mechanism for governing angular movement of said tucker arms comprising means for yieldingly resisting such angular movement within a range of preselected angular extent, and said mechanism being constructed and arranged for rapidly angularly shifting the tucker arms through a further preselected range of angular movement in response to the movement of such an arm through the first mentioned range of angular movement, one of said arms being initially positioned substantially in a vertical position, the extremity thereof being in the path of a gusset of the bag whereby the leading gusset of an oncoming bag will engage such arm and be at least partially tucked inwardly, further movement of such bag angularly shifting such arm through the first mentioned range of angular movement thereby initiating the succeeding rapid angular movement of said arms and causing the next succeeding tucker arm to snap downwardly and engage the trailing gusset of the bag to tuck same inwardly, a pair of guide bars in closely spaced relationship to one another posi- ..1 tioned for receiving the tucked upper portions of the bags after they have been acted upon by the tucker arms, said guide bars having outwardly flared extremities for receiving such upper portions, and movable guide members converging toward the center of said guide bars for guiding the tucked upper portion of the bags in between said bars.

'7. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyor for advancing successively a plurality of bags, each bag having a pair of gussets formed on opposite sides thereof, said bags being advanced on said conveyor with the gusseted sides comprising the leading and trailing bag faces, a gusset tucking device comprising a plurality of substantially radially extending arms mounted upon a support for angular movement about an axis transverse to and above said conveyor, said device being positioned whereby portions of said arms can engage the bags, and control means for said arms comprising a step-by-step governor for resiliently maintaining the arms in any one of a like plurality of angular positions, said governor including means for resiliently urging an arm toward such a position over a preselected extent of angular movement means responsive to angular movement of such an arm beyond such preselected extent of angular movement for initiating a rapid angular movement of said arms into the next successive angular position, said device being angularly shiftable in response to engagement by bags moving on said conveyor.

ii. In apparatus of the class described, a gusseted bag tucliing ldevice comprising a plurality of substantially radially extending arms mounted upon a common support, means for controlling the angular movement of said arms comprising a step-by-step governor device for resiliently maintaining said tucking device in any one of a like plurality of preselected positions, said governor including means for resiliently urging the tucking device toward each of such positions over a preselected extent of angular movement thereof, said governor also including means responsive to angular movement of said tucking device beyond such preselected extent for initiating a rapid angular movement of said arms into the next successive angular position, and a conveyor for advancing bags successively Within the orbit of said tucking device the latter being angularly GEORGE HERMAN CLARY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,909,319 Taylor May 16, 1933 1,931,280 Allison Oct. 17, 1933 1,973,696 Allison Sept. 18, 1934 1,986,043 Carter Jan. 1, 1935 2,078,774 Ragot Apr. 27, 1937 2,115,176 Pierson et al Apr. 26, 1938 2,309,760 First Feb. 2, 1943 2,362,462 Belcher et al. Nov. 14, 1944 

